EP0780787B1 - Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Drucksteuerung - Google Patents

Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Drucksteuerung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0780787B1
EP0780787B1 EP96120616A EP96120616A EP0780787B1 EP 0780787 B1 EP0780787 B1 EP 0780787B1 EP 96120616 A EP96120616 A EP 96120616A EP 96120616 A EP96120616 A EP 96120616A EP 0780787 B1 EP0780787 B1 EP 0780787B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
setting
printing
value
information
user
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP96120616A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0780787A2 (de
EP0780787A3 (de
Inventor
Takahiro c/o Canon K. K. Moro
Koji c/o Canon K. K. Yamada
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Canon Inc
Original Assignee
Canon Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP7335045A external-priority patent/JPH09179697A/ja
Priority claimed from JP7337281A external-priority patent/JPH09179698A/ja
Priority claimed from JP20258496A external-priority patent/JP4440998B2/ja
Application filed by Canon Inc filed Critical Canon Inc
Publication of EP0780787A2 publication Critical patent/EP0780787A2/de
Publication of EP0780787A3 publication Critical patent/EP0780787A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0780787B1 publication Critical patent/EP0780787B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K15/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers
    • G06K15/02—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers
    • G06K15/18—Conditioning data for presenting it to the physical printing elements
    • G06K15/1801—Input data handling means
    • G06K15/1803—Receiving particular commands
    • G06K15/1805—Receiving printer configuration commands
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
    • G06F3/1203—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
    • G06F3/1205—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
    • G06F3/1229—Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
    • G06F3/1237—Print job management
    • G06F3/1253—Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client
    • G06F3/1257—Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client by using pre-stored settings, e.g. job templates, presets, print styles
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1278—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure
    • G06F3/1285—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K15/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
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    • G06K15/002—Interacting with the operator
    • G—PHYSICS
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    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K15/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers
    • G06K15/002—Interacting with the operator
    • G06K15/005—Interacting with the operator only locally
    • G—PHYSICS
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    • G06K15/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers
    • G06K15/02—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers
    • G06K15/021—Adaptations for printing on specific media
    • G—PHYSICS
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    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K15/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers
    • G06K15/02—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers
    • G06K15/18—Conditioning data for presenting it to the physical printing elements
    • G06K15/1801—Input data handling means
    • G06K15/1803—Receiving particular commands
    • G06K15/1806—Receiving job control commands
    • G—PHYSICS
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    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K15/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers
    • G06K15/02—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers
    • G06K15/18—Conditioning data for presenting it to the physical printing elements
    • G06K15/1801—Input data handling means
    • G06K15/1803—Receiving particular commands
    • G06K15/1806—Receiving job control commands
    • G06K15/1807—Receiving job control commands relating to the print image preparation
    • G—PHYSICS
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    • G06K15/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers
    • G06K15/02—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers
    • G06K15/18—Conditioning data for presenting it to the physical printing elements
    • G06K15/1801—Input data handling means
    • G06K15/1803—Receiving particular commands
    • G06K15/1806—Receiving job control commands
    • G06K15/1809—Receiving job control commands relating to the printing process
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
    • G06F3/1203—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
    • G06F3/1207—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management resulting in the user being informed about print result after a job submission
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
    • G06F3/1203—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
    • G06F3/1208—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
    • G06F3/121—Facilitating exception or error detection and recovery, e.g. fault, media or consumables depleted
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
    • G06F3/1218—Reducing or saving of used resources, e.g. avoiding waste of consumables or improving usage of hardware resources
    • G06F3/1219—Reducing or saving of used resources, e.g. avoiding waste of consumables or improving usage of hardware resources with regard to consumables, e.g. ink, toner, paper
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
    • G06F3/1237—Print job management
    • G06F3/1239—Restricting the usage of resources, e.g. usage or user levels, credit limit, consumables, special fonts

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a printing control apparatus and method which make it possible to set the values of functions possessed by a printing device, wherein printing information for controlling the operation of the printing device is delivered to the printing device to control the same.
  • a printing control apparatus known in the art supplies printing information, which is necessary to perform printing using a desired paper and in accordance with a desired method, to a printing device in which it is possible to select plural types of printing paper and a variety of printing methods.
  • the user selects or enters various information necessary for printing and the items of information thus selected or entered are combined by the printing control apparatus to obtain the printing information that is required for optimum printing.
  • This information is supplied to the printing device so that a printout may be obtained on the desired paper and in accordance with the desired method.
  • a printing information supply apparatus known in the art supplies information necessary to perform printing to a printing device in which it is possible to select plural types of printing paper and a variety of printing methods.
  • a printing information supply apparatus of this kind the user selects or enters various information necessary for printing and the items of information thus selected or entered are combined to obtain the information that is required for optimum printing. This information is supplied to the printing device.
  • the printing information supply apparatus displays various settable items such as media type, paper size, printing quality, paper supply method, type of dithering and color processing information, as well as values set for these. The user selects or enters the settings from the items displayed.
  • the printing information supply apparatus internally combines information, creates information necessary to carry out printing based upon the combination and supplies this information to the printing device, it is difficult to deal with situations where the content of the entered information or the number of items in the information changes or situations where the content of the information or number of items in the information supplied to the printing device changes.
  • a head for monochrome printing and a head for color printing are separate from each other and the heads must be interchanged in dependence upon the particular printing job.
  • the conventional printing control apparatus is so adapted that color printing and monochrome printing can be set.
  • the remaining amount of ink will not be the correct amount if the cartridge for which resetting has been designated and a cartridge actually installed as the replacement differ.
  • printing data is transmitted to the printing device in accordance with the setting of the printing control apparatus by the operator. If the head installed differs from that for which the setting has been made, correct printing will not be carried out.
  • the WO 92 11596 discloses a printer configuration control system in which print job requirements are compared with printer capability. In case a print job requirement set by a user cannot be carried out by the printer, the requirement is corrected automatically to provide the best match between the job requirement and the printer capability.
  • the system performs an automated job requirements and printer configuration matching procedure wherein for each test in this procedure a mismatch flag is set in case a mismatch exists. Once all the tests have been performed, the mismatch flag is examined to determine whether any mismatch exists. If a mismatch does not exist, the system returns with a printer GO indication.
  • the printer operator is notified of the characteristics of the mismatch and given an opportunity to change the printer configuration to match the requirements by for example, substituting blue paper for red paper when the printer requirements specify blue paper.
  • a timer is set and then tested to determine whether the time has expired. If the time has expired, the user's strategy is checked to determine whether the user wants a strict match to the document requirements or will allow a substitution of a printed document best matching the job requirements. If the user's strategy requires a strict match, the procedure returns with a No Go indication while if the strategy is to use the best match between the job requirements and the printer capability, then the system returns with a GO indication and the corrected document requirements data structure is used to configure the printer for the job.
  • the response is checked to determine how to proceed. If the operator's response is to cancel the job, the procedure returns with a No Go indication. If the operator's response is to change the printer configuration, such as substituting blue for red paper, the system executes a portion of the procedure to correct any remaining mismatches and returns with a GO indication. If the operator does not change the configuration and indicates that the previous configuration should be used by signifying a printer GO indication, the procedure returns with a GO indication.
  • a computer system having a visual display indicating the status of an attached printer is disclosed.
  • the visual display allows the user to determine various status states of the attached printer without physical examination of the printer itself.
  • Printer states requiring user intervention, and printer states not requiring user intervention, are disclosed.
  • a case is disclosed where resuming printing is only one of the possible responses. For example, if the printer is currently loaded with legal paper, but the document being printed requires letter paper, the system will go into the paused state to allow the user to react.
  • the user has two choices: the user may put letter paper into the printer, in which case the printer will automatically go back into the resumed state and continue printing; or the user may press the Resume button to tell the system that it should go ahead and print the document on the currently loaded paper.
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram which best represents the characterizing features of a printing system and will be used to describe the printing system.
  • the system includes a printing information input unit 1 by which the user selects or enters the minimum information necessary for printing.
  • the user selects or enters the minimum printing information necessary for printing. Examples of such information are printing paper size, printing paper type, printing quality and whether printing is color or monochrome printing.
  • the operator may be allowed to enter all of this information by character strings or it may be so arranged that candidates for selection are displayed beforehand in a menu format and the operator is allowed to select the desired data from the menu.
  • printing information is entered for color printing with size A4 as the paper size, coated paper as the paper type and high-quality printing as the printing quality.
  • the items of information or number thereof necessary for printing have changed, it goes without saying that the items of information or number thereof selected or entered by the user must also be changed.
  • this entry of printing information can be made from an application program which has a printing function and which is executed in a host computer that uses a printing device.
  • the printing information input unit 1 enters the various printing information via this application program.
  • the system further includes a user information storage unit 2 for storing the printing information selected or entered by the user at the printing information input unit 1.
  • the printing information entered by the user is stored using a table of the kind shown in Fig. 2, by way of example. More specifically, the user information storage unit 2 stores the type of entered information and the content thereof. In a case where the items of information or number thereof selected or entered by user at the information input unit 1 have been changed, then the types of information or number thereof stored in the user information storage unit are also changed accordingly.
  • the user is capable of selecting, at the printing information unit, 1, the paper feed method from the paper feed tray used or paper feed by manual insertion, whereby the selected paper feed method is stored in the user information storage unit 2.
  • the content of the user information storage unit 2 in this case is as shown in Fig. 3. That is, the paper feed method is added on as a stored item (as type of information), and the paper feed method designated by the operator is stored as the content of this item.
  • the automatic sheet feeder has been designated as the paper feed method.
  • the user information storage unit 2 in such case is as shown in Fig. 4. That is, printing quality is no longer an item and the operator need not designate this.
  • the system further includes a combined information storage unit 3. It may be so arranged that information obtained by combining all information selected or entered by the user at the printing information unit 1 is stored, and it may be so arranged that only a limited combination of information is stored to carry out optimum printing. Furthermore, there are instances where a function that cannot be selected or entered at the printing information unit 1 is capable of being used at the printing device. By making use of this function at the printing device, optimum printing can be carried out. In such case information obtained by combining information selected or entered by the user and information relating to the function may be stored. At such time a number or the like is assigned to the combination so that the combined information can be selected.
  • the information stored in the combined information storage unit 3 is set by the operator who enters and stores the information from the printing information unit 1 in advance.
  • Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating specific examples of the content of the combined information storage unit 3.
  • Fig. 5 is an example of a case where all combinations of the four items of paper size, paper type, printing quality and printing color have been stored in the storage unit 3. Though paper size is limited to A4, there are two candidates for each of the other three items. There are eight possible combinations in all.
  • Fig. 6 is an example of a case where only specific combinations have been stored. These are combinations in which printing quality is decided in conformity with paper type. Low quality corresponds to plain paper and high quality corresponds to coated paper. In this case, information selected or entered by the user at the printing information unit 1 is such that printing quality is decided by designating the type of paper. As a result, items to be designated are only paper size, paper type and printing color. This makes it possible to reduce the burden upon the user.
  • Fig. 7 illustrates an example of the content of the combined information storage unit 3 in a case where a printing device 6 possesses functions that cannot be selected or entered by the user from the printing information unit 1.
  • Fig. 7 illustrates an example of a case where the printing device is provided with functions, such as a smoothing function, which, by being used, make it possible to perform printing in optimum fashion.
  • smoothing is not carried out in a case where low-quality printing, i.e., plain paper, has been designated; it is performed only when high-quality printing, namely coated paper, has been designated.
  • the combined information storage unit 3 stores the information shown in Fig.
  • the information selected or entered at the printing information unit 1 is only paper size, paper type and printing color, thus making it possible to reduce the burden upon the user. It is not necessary to designate printing quality and smoothing. Furthermore, since the smoothing function not capable of being designated by the user is capable of being used, it is possible to perform ideal printing.
  • Fig. 8 shows an example of the combined information storage unit 3 in a case where the user must select or enter information on the paper feed method at the printing information unit 1.
  • the structure of the combined information storage unit 3 is such that items stored and combinations can be changed in simple fashion depending upon a change in the content of information or the number of items of information necessary for printing. Examples of this structure are a table structure of the kind illustrated or a tree structure in which each item is a node and the values of the nodes are branches.
  • the system of Fig. 1 further includes a printing information comparator 4 for comparing information that has been stored in the user information storage unit 2 and information that has been stored in the combined information storage unit 3.
  • the printing information comparator 4 recognizes a combination of printing information for which a match has been obtained as optimum printing information necessary for printing. For example, assume that information that has been stored in the user information storage unit 2 is as shown in Fig. 2 and that the content of the combined information storage unit 3 is as illustrated in Fig. 5.
  • the combination that matches the user's designations namely A4 as the paper size, coated paper as the paper type, high quality as the printing quality and color as the printing color, is the combination of No.
  • the combination of No. 6 can be recognized as the combination that matches the user's designations.
  • a combination that thus matches the user's designations includes optimum values for the combination designated by the user with regard to functions that cannot be designated by the user. In other words, on the basis of the printing information entered by the user, an item that cannot be entered by the user is set automatically in the manner determined in advance.
  • the system further includes a printing information storage unit 5 for storing the optimum information combination necessary for printing recognized in the printing information comparator 4 and for sending this combination to the printing device 6.
  • the printing device 6 prints out data such as an image or text to be printed.
  • the printing device 6 is capable of being supplied with optimum information necessary for printing on the basis of the minimum information necessary to carry out printing selected or entered by the user.
  • Fig. 10 illustrates an arrangement in which the printing system shown in Fig. 1 and comprising the printing information unit 1, printing control apparatus 10 and printing device 6 is implemented by a host computer 100 and the printing device 6.
  • the printing information unit 1 and printing control apparatus 10 are realized by the hardware and software resources of the host computer 100.
  • a CPU 102 controls the overall apparatus and executes the program of a procedure (described later) stored in a RAM 103, thereby implementing the functions of the printing control apparatus of Fig. 1. Furthermore, the CPU 102 executes the above-mentioned application program to allow the user to enter printing information.
  • the RAM 103 stores the information of the kind shown in Figs. 2 through 4, namely the user printing information, combined printing information predetermined based upon the user printing information and the functions of the printing device 6, and printing information, which is to be sent to the printing device 6, obtained by comparing the user printing information and combined printing information.
  • a secondary memory 104 stores a program and data used upon being loaded in the RAM 103.
  • the program and data to be stored in the RAM 103 are stored in the secondary memory 104 in advance and can be loaded from the memory 104 to the RAM 103.
  • a display 105 and a keyboard 106 are used when the user enters printing information.
  • the apparatus is equipped not only with a keyboard but also with a pointing device so that desired items can be designated on a menu displayed on the display 105.
  • step S1 the operator is allowed to enter the printing information necessary to execute printing (step S1). It is determined whether the entered information is the information that should be entered, i.e., whether all of the printing information capable of being entered or selected by the user has been set (step S2). If the answer is "NO", a message calling for entry to be performed again is displayed in order to allow entry of the insufficient information (step S3). The program then returns to step S1.
  • step S4 If entry of the information that is to be set by the user is finished, then these items of information are stored in the user information storage section of RAM 103 in the format of Figs. 2 through 4 (step S4).
  • the user information is compared with a candidate from the combined information that has been stored beforehand in the combined information storage section of the RAM 103 (step S5) . If the compared items of information do not match, then the next combination candidate is selected from the combined information storage section (step S9) and the comparison operation is repeated. If matching is achieved, this combination is stored in the RAM 103 as printing information transmitted to the printing device (step S7) and the combination is sent to the printing device (step S8).
  • the printing device performs a printout in accordance with the printing information previously sent to the printing device.
  • the printing control apparatus is capable of setting printing information, which is to be sent to the printing device, by exploiting the functions of the printing device based upon the information set by the user. Further, even if the items of printing information set by the user are fixed items, functions peculiar to the printing device are optimized in dependence upon the user's setting, thereby making it possible to set printing information so as to accommodate printing devices having different functions.
  • program codes corresponding to the flowchart described earlier are stored on this storage medium. More specifically, modules illustrating an example of the memory map of Fig. 11 are stored on the storage medium.
  • program codes of at least a module of an input step of entering control information a module of a comparison step of storing, in addition to a combination of information capable of being entered, control information candidates which include items not entered but capable of being set on the printing device, and comparing this information with the entered control information, and a module of a transmission step of transmitting control information to the printing device in dependence upon the results of comparison.
  • program codes are stored on the storage medium.
  • Fig. 12 which illustrates the second example, shows a printing information supply apparatus 200 for supplying printing information to a printing device 100.
  • the printing information supply apparatus 200 includes a setting unit 201 for selecting one setting with regard to each settable item in a menu displayed on a display unit 211, and a set information storage unit 204 for storing information on settable items and settings of a menu to be displayed.
  • the settable items and settings stored in the set information storage unit 204 are illustrated in Table 1.
  • a setting information notification unit 203 extracts the settable items of the menu to be displayed and the information representing the settings from the set information storage unit 204.
  • a default information storage unit 206 is for storing a default setting with regard to each settable item to be displayed. Settings that almost never need to be selected by ordinary users are employed as the default settings stored in the default information storage unit 206. Examples of default settings are illustrated in Table 2. TABLE 2 SETTABLE ITEM DEFAULT SETTING MEDIA TYPE PLAIN PAPER PAPER SIZE A4 PRINTING COLOR COLOR PRINTING PRINTING QUALITY HIGH-QUALITY PRINTING PAPER FEED METHOD AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDER
  • a default setting notification unit 205 is for extracting a default setting with regard to each settable item of the menu from the default information storage unit 206.
  • a setting change information storage unit 208 stores a list of settings in which correlation between settable items is established in advance.
  • a setting change information notification unit 207 extracts a list related to changed settings from the setting change information storage unit 208.
  • a printing information selection unit 202 causes the display unit 211 to display the settable items and settings extracted by the setting information notification unit 203 and default information notification unit 205, respectively, to display the default settings in emphasized form.
  • the printing information selection unit 202 stores the latest settings in a storage area and, if the settings of the list from the setting change information notification unit 207 differ from the settings in this storage area, causes the settings of the list to be displayed in highlighted form. In a case where settings displayed in highlighted form have been decided upon, the printing information selection unit 202 stores the settings that have been decided in a user selection information storage unit 209. A user selection information notification unit 210 sends information that has been stored in the user selection information storage unit 209 to the printing device 100.
  • the printing information selection unit 202 sends the setting information notification unit 203 a setting information request instruction 221 when printing is requested by the user.
  • the setting information notification unit 203 sends the set information storage unit 204 a setting information request instruction 222, whereby all items of setting information 223, namely all settable items shown in Table 1 and all settings regarding each of the settable items, are extracted from the set information storage unit 204 and the extracted setting information 224 is communicated to the printing information selection unit 202.
  • the printing information selection unit 202 displays all settable items and all settings regarding these settable items on the display unit 11.
  • the printing information selection unit 202 sends a default information request instruction 225 to the default information notification unit 205.
  • the default information notification unit 205 Upon receiving the instruction 225, the default information notification unit 205 sends the default information storage unit 206 a default information request instruction 226, whereby items of default information 227, namely the default settings regarding the settable items, are extracted from the default information storage unit 206 and the extracted default information 228 is communicated to the printing information selection unit 202.
  • the default settings so communicated are "Plain Paper” for the settable item “Media Type”, “A4" for the settable item “Paper Size”, “Color Printing” for the settable item “Printing Color”, “High-quality Printing” for the settable item “Printing Quality”, and “Automatic Sheet Feeder” for the settable item “Paper Feed Method”.
  • the printing information selection unit 202 stores the default settings in the storage area as the latest settings and causes these settings to be displayed on the display unit 211 in emphasized form.
  • Fig. 13 illustrates an example of the menu displayed on the display unit 211.
  • the default settings are stored in the user selection information storage unit 209 by the printing information selection unit 202.
  • the settings in the user selection information storage unit 209 are communicated to the printing device 100 by the user selection information notification unit 210 and printing is performed by the printing device 100 in accordance with these default settings.
  • the printing information selection unit 202 sends a setting change information request instruction 229 to the setting change information notification unit 207.
  • Table 3 illustrates settable items and settings for which a change has been included in the setting change information request instruction 229.
  • the setting change information notification unit 207 Upon receiving the instruction 229, the setting change information notification unit 207 sends the setting change information storage unit 208 a setting change information request instruction 23 0 so that a list containing the changed setting is extracted from the setting change information storage unit 208.
  • the content of the list extracted is shown in Table 4. TABLE 4 SETTABLE ITEM DEFAULT SETTING MEDIA TYPE OHP PAPER PAPER SIZE A4 PRINTING COLOR COLOR PRINTING PRINTING QUALITY HIGH-QUALITY PRINTING PAPER FEED METHOD MANUAL INSERTION
  • the printing information selection unit 202 responds by comparing the list with latest settings that have been stored in the storage area of the printing information selection unit 202 and, if there is a setting that is different, by changing the setting of this settable item to the setting in the list. Since the default settings will have been stored in the storage area, the default settings of Table 2 and the settings in the list of Table 4 are compared. The result of the comparison will be that the setting of the item “Paper Feed Method” is “Automatic Sheet Feeder" in one and “Manual Insertion” in the other. Accordingly, the setting for which the change has been made is “Automatic Sheet Feeder. " This example is shown in Table 5. Table 5 SETTABLE ITEM SETTING AFTER CHANGE PAPER FEED METHOD AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDER
  • the setting unit 201 When the user operates the setting unit 201 and presses a "Cancel" screen key shown in Fig. 14 under these conditions, the setting is not finalized and the default setting is left as the setting. In addition, the menu screen vanishes. If the "Select" screen key is pressed, on the other hand, the content of the storage area of printing information selection unit 202 is updated to the settings in the list and the currently prevailing settings are stored in the user selection information storage unit 209 by the printing information selection unit 202. The settings that have been stored in the user selection information storage unit 209 are communicated to the printing device 100 by the user selection information notification unit 210 and printing is performed by the printing device 100 in accordance with these settings.
  • a correlated value is stored in the setting change information storage unit 208 beforehand with regard to the media type "OHP Paper” in the manner shown in Table 4.
  • correlations may be performed solely with regard to some of the settable items. For example, if the setting of "Media Type” is “OHP Paper”, then “A4" would be correlated with “Paper Size” and “Manual Insertion” with “Paper Feed Method. " None is stored for the other sellable items. Accordingly, the settable items for which there are correlations, namely paper size and paper feed method, are read out of the setting change information storage unit 208. The printing information selection unit 202 employs and highlights these settings instead of those selected thus far and adopts the previous settings for the other items.
  • Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing information supply apparatus according to this example.
  • Fig. 15 illustrates the procedure of the program executed by the CPU 102 when the arrangement of Fig. 12 is implemented by the computer having the architecture shown in Fig. 10.
  • the processing indicated by the flowchart of Fig. 15 starts when a printing request is issued to the printing information supply apparatus 200.
  • step S1501 the setting information of the kind shown in Table 1 is read out of the secondary memory 104 at step S1501 in Fig. 15, then the items capable of being set and the values which these items can take on are displayed at step S1502. This if followed by reading out the default information of Table 2 (step S1503), storing the default values in the RAM 103 as the current settings and displaying these values in highlighted form in the manner shown in Fig. 13 (step S1504) . If the default settings have been displayed in this fashion, the system waits for an input from the operator (step S1505) .
  • step S1506 the CPU 102 determines what kind of input this is (step S1506) . If the cancel button is pressed, printing processing remains suspended. If the select button is pressed, the CPU judges that the highlighted settings of the selection items have been selected and sends the current settings to the printing device (step S1507) . The printing device thenceforth received printing data and executes printing.
  • the setting is changed.
  • the operator performs a setting operation by moving a mouse cursor to the desired setting and clicking the mouse button.
  • first new default settings are read out with the set items and values thereof serving as indices (step S1508) .
  • the system waits for an input without changing the display or current settings. If a default setting for an index exists, this value is read out and stored again as the current setting and the display is changed in such a manner that the updated setting is displayed in highlighted form. The system then waits for an input.
  • the operator need not be aware of the relationship even if there are items that are restricted by this value and are capable of taking on only specific values.
  • the relationship is stored in the printing information supply apparatus 200 and the settings can be selected in accordance with the particular restriction without the special consideration being required on the part of the operator.
  • the user is capable of executing optimum printing by making the minimum number of settings. If the content of information or the number of items thereof are changed by the user, or if the content of information or the number of items thereof supplied to the printing device are changed, this can be dealt with merely by changing the combination of information in advance.
  • the settings of other settable items also are revised to optimum settings that have been predetermined. This reduces the number of settings that the user must make.
  • Fig. 16 is a block diagram which best represents the characterizing features of a printing system to which the present invention is applied and will be used to describe the printing system.
  • the system includes a printing control apparatus 300 for supplying the printing device 100 with printing control information and printing data and for controlling printing by the printing device.
  • the printing control apparatus 300 is implemented by having a computer 110 in Fig. 17 execute the driver program of the printing device, inclusive of an operating system, as will be described later.
  • the printing control apparatus 300 includes a setting unit 301 for selecting one setting with regard to each settable item in a menu displayed on a display unit 309. The selection of the setting is performed by entry of a value from a keyboard or by selection on a menu made by a pointing device.
  • a settable value storage unit 304 is for setting, as settable values, information representing all combinations of settable items representing the various functions possessed by the printing device 100 and the settings representing the details of these items. More specifically, the settable value storage unit 304 stores settable items and values for every type of printing device.
  • Fig. 18 illustrates the settable items and settings stored in the settable value storage unit 304.
  • a settable value information extraction unit 303 extracts the settable items of the menu to be displayed and the information representing the settings from the settable value storage unit 304.
  • a default information storage unit 306 is for storing a default setting with regard to each settable item to be displayed. Settings that almost never need to be changed by ordinary users and message information settings relating to printing are employed as the default settings stored in the default setting storage unit 306. Examples of default settings are illustrated in Fig. 19.
  • a default setting information extraction unit 305 extracts a default setting with regard to each settable item from the default setting storage unit 306.
  • a link information storage unit 308 stores a list of settings in which correlations between the settable items of the menu are established in advance.
  • a link information extraction unit 307 extracts a list related to changed settings from the link information storage unit 308.
  • a setting selection unit 302 stores the latest settings in a storage area 3021 and, if the settings of the list from the link information extraction unit 307 differ from the settings in the storage area 3021, causes the settings of the list to be displayed on the display unit 309. In a case where settings displayed on the display unit 309 have been decided upon, the setting selection unit 302 sends these finalized settings to a control command issuance unit 310 so that this information will be sent to the printing device 100.
  • the link information includes settable items and settings capable of being set by the setting selection unit 302, as well as non-settable items and settings that cannot be set by the setting selection unit 302.
  • the link information storage unit 308 combines settings that are capable of being set with regard to settable items and stores link information candidates consisting of desired values set as non-settable items for every settable item combined.
  • the setting selection unit 302 sends the settable value information extraction unit 303 a settable value information request instruction 321 when printing is requested of the printing control apparatus 300 by the user.
  • the settable value information extraction unit 303 Upon receiving the request 321, the settable value information extraction unit 303 sends the settable value storage unit 304 a settable value information request instruction 322.
  • all items of settable value information 323, namely all settable items shown in Fig. 18 and all settings regarding each of the settable items are extracted from the settable value storage unit 304.
  • the settable value information extraction unit 303 communicates the extracted settable value information 324 to the setting selection unit 302.
  • the setting selection unit 302 Upon receiving this information, the setting selection unit 302 stores all of the settable value information in the storage area 3021 and causes the display unit 309 to display, whenever necessary, all settable items and all settings for these settable items.
  • the setting selection unit 302 sends the default setting information extraction unit 305 a default setting information request instruction 325. Upon receiving the instruction 325, the default setting information extraction unit 305 sends default setting information 326 to the default setting storage unit 306. As a result, default settings 327, namely default settings corresponding to the settable items are extracted from the default setting storage unit 306.
  • the default setting information extraction unit 305 communicates the extracted default setting information 328 to the setting selection unit 302. As shown in Fig. 19, the communicated default setting information possesses a unique setting for each settable item.
  • the setting selection unit 302 stores the default setting information in the storage area 3021 as the latest settings and causes the display unit 309 to display these settings.
  • setting information representing each setting is sent to the control command issuance unit 310 by the setting selection unit 302 and printing is performed by the printing device 100 in accordance with a printing control command 334 issued by the control command issuance unit 310.
  • the setting selection unit 302 sends a link information request instruction 329 to the link information extraction unit 307.
  • the link information request instruction 329 includes the settable item that has been changed and setting information after the change.
  • the link information extraction unit 307 Upon receiving the link information request instruction 329, the link information extraction unit 307 sends the link information storage unit 308 a link information request instruction 330, to which the link information storage unit 308 responds by extracting link information 331, which includes the changed setting, from the link information storage unit 308.
  • the setting selection unit 302 compares this information and the latest setting that has been stored in the storage area 3021. If the result of the comparison is that there is a settable item for which the two settings are different, the operator is allowed to select either of the settings of this item to effect a change to the selected setting and store the setting in the storage area 3021.
  • the latest setting is displayed on the display unit 309.
  • a printer driver in a computer system having the program constitution shown in Fig. 32 is imagined as the printing control apparatus 300.
  • This printer driver corresponds to the printing control apparatus 300 in Fig. 16.
  • software/hardware resources of a host computer 180 are managed by an operating system 182.
  • An application program 183 utilizes various peripheral drivers and managers via the operating system 182.
  • These driver programs include a printer driver 181 for controlling the printing device 100 and a display driver for controlling the display unit 309.
  • the user creates data using application software (e.g., word processing software) 183 and executes printing by the printer in the system of Fig. 32
  • application software e.g., word processing software
  • the user designates execution of printing via an input unit such as a keyboard or mouse.
  • the signal representing this designation is sent from the application software 183 to the operating system 182, which initiates start-up of the printer driver 181.
  • the operation of the printer driver at this time is as already described in connection with Fig. 16.
  • the setting selection unit 302 sends the settable value information extraction unit 303 the settable value information request instruction 321, the series of information exchanges described above is carried out and the setting selection unit 302 receives the settable value information 324 from the settable value information extraction unit 303.
  • the settable value information 324 is stored temporarily in the storage area 3021, which is provided on a recording medium such as a RAM (random-access memory) or HD (hard disk).
  • the setting selection unit 302 sends the default setting information extraction unit 305 the default setting information request instruction 325, the series of information exchanges described above is carried out and the setting selection unit 302 receives the default setting information 327 from the default setting information extraction unit 305.
  • the default setting information 327 is stored temporarily in the storage area 3021 and is displayed on the display unit 309 that is connected to the host computer. At this time the items for which defaults have been set are made distinguishable as by highlighting them. Further, settings made by the user are implemented by the setting unit 301, which includes the keyboard and pointing device.
  • Figs. 20 through 23 show windows illustrating various settings regarding the printer driver according to this invention when a user employing Microsoft's operating system "Windows 95" designates printing from the application software.
  • Fig. 20 shows a window referred to a "main property" window.
  • the user is capable of employing this window to set an "Automatic Pallet” section through which the operator may select a printing method that is suited to the user's own application software.
  • the window illustrates messages regarding positions to which "Paper Thickness Selection Lever” and “Paper Thickness Lever” are to be moved in dependence upon thickness of the printing paper and settings of "Media Type” and "Paper Feed Method.
  • Fig. 21 shows a window referred to as a "paper property” window.
  • This window makes it possible for the user to set a "Paper Size” field , which indicates the size of the paper that has been designated in the application program, an "Enlarge/Reduce” check box indicating whether an image is to be enlarged or reduced in a case where the size specified in the "Paper Size” field differs from the size of the paper actually loaded in the printer, a "Printing Direction” field for designating the direction of printing, and a “Color Mode” field for designating printing color.
  • the default settings for these settable items are "A4" for "Paper Size", “OFF” for "Enlarge/Reduce", “Vertical” for "Printing Direction” and “Color” for "Color Mode”. These are displayed on the display unit.
  • Fig. 22 shows a window referred to as a "quality property” window that opens when a "Detailed Setting” button (Fig. 20) is pressed.
  • This window makes it possible for the user to set a "Printing Quality” slide bar which designates the quality of printing, "Resolution” & “Printing Mode” messages indicating the states of resolution and printing mode in the particular set state of the "Printing Quality” slide bar, a "Paper Feed Method” field for designating the method of paper feed, a "Media” field for designating the printing medium, and a “Dither Setting” field for designating dither processing.
  • the default settings for these settable items are the second graduation from the left for "Printing Quality", the messages “360 x 360 dpi” and “HQ” for “Resolution” and “Printing Mode”, respectively, "Automatic Sheet Feeder” for “Paper Feed Method”, “Plain Paper” for “Media” and “Pattern (High Speed)” for "Dither Setting.” These are displayed on the display unit.
  • Fig. 23 shows a window referred to as a "color setting property" window capable of being opened after the window of Fig. 22 is opened.
  • the user can employ this window to set a "Density” field through which the density of data at the time of printing can be changed, and a “Color Correction” field for performing various color corrections.
  • the default setting for these settable items are “0" for "Density” and “OFF” for “Color Correction.” These are displayed on the display unit.
  • the user selects the type of application from the "Automatic Pallet” of the main property window using the setting unit 301. Then, in conformity with the selection made on the "Automatic Pallet", the user merely moves the levers in the directions displayed in the "Paper Thickness Selection Lever” and “Paper Selection Lever” messages and places the medium indicated in the "Media” message in the printer, thereby making it possible to execute printing that conforms to the application. If the application being employed by the user is word processing software, the user need only execute printing by leaving the various settings at the default settings.
  • the default settings that have been stored in the storage area 3021 are communicated from the setting selection unit 302 to the control command issuance unit 310 as setting information 333 and to the printing device 100 as the printing control command 334. As a result, printing in accordance with the default settings is performed by the setting device 100.
  • Fig. 24 shows a window illustrating a state in which "Photographic Film” has been selected on the "Automatic Pallet” in a case where the image created by a photograph retouching program is to be printed on glossy film paper.
  • Fig. 25 the setting "Pattern (High Speed)" for "Dither Setting” is dimmed and cannot be selected by the user; "Error Diffusion” has been selected.
  • a button or the like is dimmed on the screen, this means that the button cannot be selected.
  • dimmed buttons and the like are not particularly illustrated.
  • the display shown in Fig. 25 is the result of the user having performed the operation below by selecting "Photographic Film” instead of "Word Processor” on the "Automatic Pallet” of the main property window through use of the setting unit 301. It should be noted that it is assumed that “Word Processor” has been set as the default setting at start-up of printer driver, and that this setting has been stored in the storage area 3021 as the latest value.
  • the setting selection unit 302 sends the link information extraction unit 307 the link information request instruction 329 relating to the setting "Photographic Film” on the automatic pallet.
  • the link information 331 extracted from the link information storage unit 308 in accordance with the instruction 329 includes information to the effect that "Pattern (High Speed) " of the dither settable item is to be made non-selectable, as well as information to the effect that "Error Diffusion” is to be selected.
  • the link information extraction unit 307 receives the link information 331 and sends the link information 332 to the setting selection unit 302.
  • the setting selection unit 302 compares the latest setting information saved in the storage area 3021 with the link information 332. The result of the comparison is that the two are different. In such case the dither setting is changed from the default "Pattern (High Speed) " to "Error Diffusion” obtained by the link information, and this is stored in the storage area 3021. The result of the change is displayed on the display unit 309.
  • the link information includes a settable item and setting ("Error Diffusion" in this example) capable of being selected by the setting selection unit 302, as well as non-selectable item and setting ["Pattern (High Speed)”].
  • the link information storage unit 308 combines settings capable of being set with regard to the above-mentioned settable items and stores link information candidates consisting of desired values set as non-settable items for every settable item combined. When the value of a certain item is changed, therefore, items which must not be set and their values are obtained from the link information together with the item to be changed and its value that are linked to the value of the changed item.
  • the setting of the item “Media” is changed from “High-gloss Film” to “Coated Film”, as shown in Fig. 27.
  • the setting selection unit 302 sends the link information extraction unit 307 the information request instruction 329, which includes information to the effect that the setting of the item "Media” has been changed from “High-gloss Film” to "Coated Paper.
  • the link information extraction unit 307 sends the link information storage unit 308 the link information request instruction 330.
  • the link information storage unit 308 Upon receiving the instruction 330, the link information storage unit 308 sends information, which includes the setting of an item to be changed attendant upon the change of the setting for the item "Media” from High-gloss Film” to "Coated Paper", to the link information extraction unit 307 as the link information 331. This information is delivered from the link information extraction unit 307 to the setting selection unit 302 as link information 322.
  • the setting selection unit 302 compares the latest set value stored in the storage area 3021 with the link information 332. If the setting stored in the storage area 3021 and the setting of the link information 332 differ and, moreover, neither can be decided upon, the user is called upon to make the decision, as shown in Fig. 28.
  • the link information 332 is stored on the recording medium as the latest information.
  • the display unit displays the latest information in the manner shown in Fig. 29.
  • the setting for the item "Paper Feed Method” has been changed from “Manual Insertion” to "Automatic Sheet Feeder.
  • the information that has been stored in the storage area 3021 is displayed by the display unit 309 in the manner shown in Fig. 30.
  • the only change made by the operator from the window of Fig. 25 is the settable item "Media", which the operator has changed to High-gloss Film.”
  • This exchange of information is performed among the setting selection unit 302, link information extraction unit 307 and link information storage unit 308 until the user clicks on the "OK" button in the main property window.
  • the latest setting information that has been stored in the storage area 3021 is communicated from the setting selection unit 302 to the control command issuance unit 310 as the setting information 333. Furthermore, this information is communicated to the printing device 100 as the printing control command 334 so that printing in accordance with the latest setting information is carried out by the printing device 100.
  • Fig. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a case where the printing system shown in Fig. 16 and comprising the printing device 100 and host computer 110 is implemented by hardware resources.
  • the CPU 102 controls the overall apparatus and executes the program of a procedure (described later) stored in the RAM 103, thereby implementing the functions of the printing control apparatus of Fig. 16 or of the system shown in Fig. 32. Furthermore, the CPU 102 executes the above-mentioned application program to allow the user to enter printing information.
  • the RAM 103 is provided with the storage area 3201 for storing the settable values planted by the setting selection unit 302, the default settings and the latest settings.
  • the secondary memory 104 stores a program and information used upon being loaded in the RAM 103.
  • the program and information to be stored in the RAM 103 are stored in the secondary memory 104 in advance and can be loaded from the memory 104 to the RAM 103.
  • the display 105, a keyboard 106 and a pointing device 1061 are used when the user selects or enters settings.
  • the windows of Figs. 20 through 30 are displayed by the display 105 and settings are made by the keyboard or pointing device.
  • Fig. 31 In order to implement the functions of the printing control apparatus, the program of a procedure shown in Fig. 31 is executed by the CPU 102 of the host computer 110 configured as described above.
  • the procedure of Fig. 31 has already been described with reference to Figs. 16, 18 - 30 and 32 but will now be described again in terms of the flow of processing.
  • a request for settable value information is made (step S3101), whereupon the settable value information is acquired (step S3102) and stored in the RAM 103 (step S3103).
  • Default information is then requested (step 53104), the default information is acquired (step S3105) and the default information is stored in the RAM 103 (step S3106) and displayed on the display 105 (step S3107) .
  • step S3108 It is determined whether execution of printing has been designated by the user (step S3108) . If the answer is "YES”, then setting information is sent to the control command issuance unit (step S3117). The latter sends a control command to the printing device 100 (step S3118), in response to which the printing device 100 executes a printing operation.
  • step S3108 If it is found at step S3108 that the user has not designated printing, then it is determined whether a setting has been changed (step S3109). If a setting has not been changed, then the program returns to step S3108.
  • step S3110 link information is requested (step S3110) and the link information is acquired (step S3111).
  • step S3112 the latest setting that has been stored in the storage area and the link information setting are compared (step S3112) and judged (step S3113). If the result of the comparison is that the two are equal, the program returns to step S3108. If the two are not equal, then it is determined whether the selection of the setting should be made by the user (step S3114). This decision is made by setting a flag in advance, for every item of link information, indicating whether the item is one to be left to the judgment of the user, and then referring to the flag.
  • step S3115 the selection entered by the user is investigated. If a change has been entered, the portion that is different in the result of the comparison is substituted for the link information setting and this is stored in the RAM 103 (step S3116).
  • step S3114 If it is judged at step S3114 that the user should not make the selection, then the program proceeds to step S3116.
  • step S3116 If the changed setting has been stored in the RAM 103 at step S3116, the program returns to step S3108, where it is determined whether the user has designated the execution of printing.
  • the printing control apparatus in such that for every value set as a settable item for the purpose of performing printing, other settable items related to this item and the values of these other items are stored beforehand as link information. If the value of any settable item has been changed, link information is retrieved based upon the changed item and its value and the items and values thereof contained in the link information obtained are adopted as new settings or as setting candidates. As a result, the burden of making settings at the time of printing is alleviated as far as the operator is concerned. In addition, the settings at the time of printing are made the optimum values with ease.
  • Fig. 55 is a sectional view of a color laser printer 1020.
  • the printer includes an optical system 711 having a laser output unit (not shown) for converting an image signal to an optical signal, a polygon mirror 712 having the shape of a polyhedron (e.g., an octahedron), a motor (not shown) for rotating the mirror 712, and an f/ ⁇ lens (image forming lens) 713.
  • Areflectingmirror 714 changes the optical path of the laser beam.
  • Numeral 715 denotes a photosensitive drum.
  • the laser beam emitted by the laser output unit is reflected by one side of the polygon mirror 712 and linearly scans (raster scans) the surface of the photosensitive drum 715, which is rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow), through the f/ ⁇ lens 713 and mirror 714.
  • an electrostatic latent image that corresponds to the image of an original is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 715.
  • the printer further includes a primary corona charging device 717, a full-exposure lamp 718, a cleaner 723 for recovering residual toner that has not been transferred, and a pre-transfer corona charging device 724. These units are arranged along the circumference of the photosensitive drum 715.
  • a developing unit 726 develops the electrostatic latent image that has been formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 715.
  • the developing unit 726 includes developing sleeves 731Y, 731M, 731C, 731Bk which perform direct development by contacting the surface of the photosensitive drum 715, toner hoppers 730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk containing preliminary toners, and screws 732 for conveying developer.
  • the sleeves 731Y - 731Bk, toner hoppers 730Y ⁇ 730Bk and screws 732 are arranged so as to surround a rotary shaft P of the developing unit. It should be noted that the characters Y, M, C, Bk of these components indicate colors.
  • Y", “M”, “C” and “Bk” represent the colors yellow, magenta, cyan and black, respectively.
  • a yellow toner development process is performed at the position indicated in Fig. 55.
  • the developing unit 726 is revolved about the shaft P to bring the developing sleeve 731M inside the magenta developing unit into contact with the photosensitive drum 715.
  • a similar operation is performed with regard to the cyan and black images as well.
  • the printer further includes a transfer drum 716 which transfers the toner images formed on the photosensitive drum 715 from the drum to paper, an actuator plate 719 for detecting the position to which the transfer drum 716 has been moved, a position sensor 720 which, by being approached by the actuator plate 719, senses that the transfer drum 716 has moved to a home position, a transfer drum cleaner 725, a paper retaining roller 727, a charge removing device 728 and a transfer corona charging device 729.
  • These units 719, 720, 725, 727 and 729 are arranged along the circumference of the transfer drum 716.
  • Numerals 735, 736 denote paper supply cassettes which accommodate sheets of paper. It is assumed in this embodiment that the paper supply cassettes 735 and 736 contain size A4 paper and size A3 paper, respectively.
  • Paper feed rollers 737, 738 supply paper from the cassettes 735, 736, respectively.
  • Timing rollers 739, 740 and 741 decide the timing of paper supply and conveyance. A sheet of paper supplied and conveyed via these rollers is introduced to a paper guide 749 and the paper is wound upon the transfer drum 716 while its leading edge is held by a gripper, described below. A transition is then made to the image forming process. It should be noted that which of the paper feed cassettes 735, 736 is selected is decided by a command from a main controller, and that only a selected paper feed roller is rotated.
  • an inkjet printer can be utilized instead of this laser beam printer.
  • a description of the structure of the inkjet printer is not given here as the structure will be described in conjunction with a third example, set forth below.
  • a printing system which implements a printer driver to perform printing will now be described as a third example with reference to the arrangement shown in Fig. 33.
  • a controller H01 (referred to as a "CPU” below) administers overall control of the embodiment.
  • a keyboard H02 and a pointing device H21 are used when the operator enters various data.
  • a color display unit H03 displays image data that have been stored in a RAM H05.
  • a ROM H04 is a read-only memory in which the control procedure for controlling the overall apparatus and various other items of necessary information are stored in advance.
  • a RAM H05 is a random-access memory utilized as a working area.
  • a hard disk H06 is for reading and writing various data and for storing programs.
  • a printer interface H07 is a bidirectional interface for transmitting printing data and for receiving signals representing the status of a printer H08.
  • a data bus H09 is used to transfer various data. It should be noted that the hard disk H06 stores application programs and a printer driver. These are loaded in the RAM H05 and are executed by the CPU H01.
  • the printer H08 of this example is a color inkjet printer and is capable of being equipped with three types of interchangeable heads.
  • the first is a monochrome printing head, the second a color printing head and the third a photographic grade printing head.
  • the monochrome and color printing heads are bi-level heads the same as those in conventional printers.
  • One bit of image data in a print command signifies one dot.
  • the photographic grade printing head is capable of performing grayscale printing by superimposing light inks. In this example, the head is capable of printing four gray levels. This means that two bits are necessary to express one dot. Since the number of bits needed to print one dot thus differs depending upon the head, printing cannot be performed correctly unless a print command suited to the head installed in the printer is transmitted.
  • This system is so adapted as to determine whether the printing head that has been set in the printer driver and the printing head actually installed in the printer agree, present an error display if the two do not agree and suspend printing or allow the head to be changed.
  • Fig. 34 shows a printing dialog box.
  • the printing dialog box is a display window that allows the operator to make various settings related to printing. The operator observes the display and sets appropriate values by entering them or by selecting them from a menu. When a setting has been made, the setting is stored in the RAM H05 or hard disk H06.
  • a "Cartridge” menu in Fig. 34 is for selecting the head. Three types of heads can be selected using this menu.
  • Fig. 35 illustrates selectable items in the "Cartridge” menu. The printer driver generates a print command in conformity with the setting on the "Cartridge” menu when a "Print” button is pressed.
  • the head that has been installed in the printer is checked before the print command is transmitted to the printer. If the installed head agrees with the menu setting, then the print command is transmitted. If non-agreement is found, an error dialog box shown in Fig. 36 is displayed. If the "Stop” button in this dialog box is pressed, printing is suspended. If the "Continue” button is pressed, then head verification processing is executed and processing is repeated until the setting is found to agree with the actual head.
  • Fig. 37 is a flowchart of processing from clicking of the "Print" button in Fig. 34 to transmission of the print command.
  • the type of head mounted in the printer H08 is obtained via the printer interface H07 of Fig. 33 at step S321.
  • the value set as the "Cartridge" item of the printer driver is obtained at step S232 .
  • step S236 If the "Stop” button has been pressed, a transition is made to suspension of printing. It is determined at step S236 whether the "Continue” button has been pressed. If this button has been pressed, a transition is made to step S231. If this button has not been pressed, however, the program returns to step S235.
  • the printer driver controls the setting of the printing head in the manner described above, it is possible to prevent printing malfunction caused by a difference between the setting of printing head and the actually installed printing head.
  • Fig. 38 is diagram showing the construction of a color inkjet recording apparatus IJRA applicable to this example. It should be noted that this printer can be used not only in the first example but also in the embodiment and examples from the second onward.
  • a carriage HC is engaged with a helical groove 5004 of a lead screw 5005 rotated via driving force transmission gears 5011, 5009 in operative association with the forward and reverse rotation of a driver motor 5013.
  • the carriage HC has a pin (not shown) moved back and forth in directions of arrows a and b.
  • An inkjet cartridge IJC for the colors Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan) and Bk (black) is mounted on the carriage HC in a case where the color head is selected. If the monochrome head is selected, a cartridge solely for the color black is mounted. If photographic color is selected, a cartridge for photographic color is mounted.
  • a paper retaining plate 5002 presses recording paper P against a platen 5000 along the traveling direction of the carriage.
  • Photocouplers 5007, 5008 constitute home position sensing means for verifying the presence of a carriage lever 5006 in the vicinity of the photocouplers and changing over the direction in which the motor 5013 is rotated.
  • a member 5016 supports a cap member 5022, which is for capping the front side of the recording head.
  • Suction means 5015 for applying suction to the cap subjects the cap to suction recovery via an opening 5023 inside the cap.
  • a member 5019 makes it possible to move a cleaning blade 5017 back and forth.
  • the cleaning blade 5017 and the member 5019 are supported on a support plate 5018. It goes without saying that the blade need not be of this type and that a well-known cleaning blade can be applied to this example.
  • a lever 5021 which is for starting the suction of the suction recovery operation, moves with movement of a cam 5020 engaged with the carriage. Movement is controlled by well-known transmission means whereby the driving force from the driver motor is changed over as by a clutch.
  • Fig. 39 shows a dialog box for setting paper size.
  • This dialog box is a window for setting the size, scale and orientation of the printing paper.
  • the set values are stored in the RAM H08 or hard disk H06.
  • the operator sets printing paper size and the like by setting the values desired for each of the items on the screen or by selecting the values from a menu.
  • a "Paper Size” menu is a menu for selecting paper size.
  • the printer of this embodiment supports 13 types of paper sizes.
  • Fig. 40 illustrates the selectable items in the "Paper Size” menu.
  • The. "OK" button in the dialog box of Fig. 39 signifies a decision on paper size and is not for designating execution of printing.
  • Printing is performed by selecting the "Print” button in the printing dialog box of Fig. 34 .
  • the printer driver When the "Print" button in the printing dialog box is pressed, the printer driver generates a print command in conformity with the value set for the item "Paper Size.”
  • the size of the paper that has been placed in the printer is confirmed. If the size agrees with the setting, the print command is transmitted to the printer. If the two do not agree, an error dialog box shown in Fig. 41 is displayed. Printing is suspended if a "Stop” button in Fig. 41 is pressed. If the "Continue” button is pressed, then paper size verification processing is executed and processing is repeated until the setting is found to agree with the paper size.
  • Fig. 42 is a flowchart of processing from clicking of the "Print" button in Fig. 34 to transmission of the print command.
  • the size of the paper that has been placed in the printer H08 is obtained via the printer interface H07 of Fig. 33 at step S281.
  • the value set of the "Paper Size" set by the operator in the dialog box of Fig. 39 is obtained at step S282. It is determined at step S283 whether the size of the paper that has been placed in the printer and the value set in the dialog box of Fig. 39 with respect to the printer driver agree. If the two agree, a transition is made to printing processing. If the two do not agree, the program proceeds to step S284, at which a display is presented to the effect that the paper size is different. In this example, the error dialog box of Fig. 41 is displayed. Steps S285 and S286 constitute error dialog processing.
  • step S285 It is determined at step S285 whether the "Stop” button has been pressed. - If the "Stop” button has been pressed", a transition is made to suspension of printing. It is determined at step S286 whether the "Continue” button has been pressed. If this button has been pressed, a transition is made to step S281. If this button has not been pressed, however, the program returns to step S285.
  • the processing described above makes it possible to determine whether the size of paper placed in the printer agrees with the paper size set for the printer driver. As a result, printer malfunction caused by the wrong paper size can be prevented.
  • a printing system in which when the setting of the printer driver and the setting of the printer differ, a different printer can be selected anew without an error display being presented.
  • a system having a construction the same as that of the printing system of the embodiment will be described as an example.
  • Fig. 45 The connections between a host and printers is as shown in Fig. 45.
  • a PC 311 in Fig. 45 serves as a host and is connected to printers 312 - 314, each of which has a name assigned to it.
  • the operation of the printer driver will be described in terms of the display screen.
  • Fig. 43 shows a printing dialog box.
  • a "Cartridge” menu in Fig. 43 is for selecting the head.
  • the printer driver generates a print command in conformity with the setting on the "Cartridge" menu when a "Print" button is pressed.
  • the head that has been installed in the printer is checked before the print command is transmitted to the printer. If the installed head agrees with the menu setting, then the print command is transmitted. If non-agreement is found, an error dialog box shown in Fig.
  • Fig. 46 is a flowchart of processing from clicking of the "Print" button to transmission of the print command.
  • the type of head mounted in the printer H08 is obtained via the printer interface H07 of Fig. 33 at step S231.
  • the value set as the "Cartridge" item of the printer driver is obtained at step S322. It is determined at step S323 whether the head that has been mounted in the printer H08 and the setting of the printer driver agree. If the two agree, a transition is made to printing processing. If the two do not agree, the program proceeds to step S324, at which a display is presented to the effect that the head is different from the setting of the driver. In this example, the error dialog box of Fig. 44 is displayed. Steps S325 and S326 constitute error dialog processing. It is determined at step S325 whether the "Stop" button has been pressed.
  • step S326 If the "Stop” button has been pressed, a transition is made to suspension of printing. It is determined at step S326 whether the "Choose” button has been pressed. If this button has been pressed, a new printer currently connected is selected as the printer whose printing is to be controlled and the processing from step S321 onward is executed again with regard to this printer. If the "Choose” button has not been pressed, the program returns to step S325.
  • Described next will be a printing system in which when the setting of the printer driver and the setting of the printer differ, the setting of the printer driver is changed in conformity with the setting of the printer without an error display being presented.
  • a case in which the printing heads differ in a manner similar to that of the embodiment will be described as an example.
  • Fig. 47 shows a printing dialog box.
  • This dialog box is a window for making various setting relating to printing and executing printing.
  • a "Cartridge" menu in Fig. 47 is for selecting the head.
  • Three types of heads are available for the printer in this printing system. The first is a monochrome printing head, the second a color printing head and the third a photographic grade printing head.
  • the printer driver generates a print command in conformity with the setting on the "Cartridge" menu when a "Print" button is pressed.
  • the head that has been installed in the printer is checked before the print command is transmitted to the printer. If the installed head agrees with the menu setting, then the print command is transmitted.
  • Fig. 48 If non-agreement is found, an error dialog box shown in Fig. 48 is displayed. If the "Stop” button in this dialog box is pressed, printing is suspended. If “OK” is selected, a print command is generated in conformity with the head that has been installed in the printer.
  • Fig. 49 is a flowchart of processing from clicking of the "Print" button in Fig. 47 to transmission of the print command after execution of printing is designated.
  • the type of head mounted in the printer H08 is obtained via the printer interface H07 of Fig. 33 at step S351.
  • the value set as the "Cartridge" item of the printer driver is obtained at step 5352. It is determined at step S353 whether the head that has been mounted in the printer H08 and the setting regarding the printer driver agree. If the two agree, a transition is made to printing processing. If the two do not agree, the program proceeds to step S354, at which a display is presented to the effect that the set head is different from the head actually installed. In this example, the error dialog box of Fig. 48 is displayed. Steps S355 and S356 constitute error dialog processing. It is determined at step S355 whether the "Stop" button has been pressed.
  • step S357 If the "Stop” button has been pressed, a transition is made to step S357. If the "Stop” button has not been pressed, however, the program returns to step S355.
  • the setting of the printer driver is made to conform to the head mounted in the printer at step S358. Subsequent printing steps generate a command in conformity with the setting of the printer driver. As a result, a command in line with the mounted head is generated.
  • Printing can be performed correctly by executing the same processing even in arrangements other than those of the third through sixth examples, such as in cases where the setting of paper type or paper feed opening differs from that on the printer driver. Further, if the setting information can be transmitted from the printer to the host, any physical interface may be used.
  • Fig. 33 The hardware configuration for implementing this example useful for understanding the invention is as shown in Fig. 33, namely a configuration the same as that of the third through sixth examples.
  • Print setting includes designations not only of the head information described below but also designations of paper size, paper type, printing method and paper feed opening.
  • the system is adapted to investigate the head installed in the printer while displaying the printing dialog box of the printer driver and to display a cartridge menu conforming to the head that has been installed.
  • Fig. 50 illustrates the printing dialog box.
  • a "Cartridge" menu in Fig. 50 is for selecting the head.
  • Three types of heads are available for the printer in this printing system. The first is a monochrome printing head, the second a color printing head and the third a photographic grade printing head.
  • Figs. 51 through 53 show “Cartridge” menus.
  • Figs. 51, 52 and 53 are menus displayed when the color printing head, monochrome printing head and photographic grade printing head, respectively, have been loaded in the in the printer.
  • the printer driver changes the menu automatically in conformity with the head that has been installed.
  • Fig. 54 is a flowchart of printing dialog processing in the system according to this example.
  • processing is started by the procedure of Fig. 54.
  • Initial setting of printing is performed at step S401.
  • a dialog display is presented at step S402 in conformity with the current print setting. This is followed by step S403, at which it is determined through the printer interface H07 of Fig. 33 whether a head has been mounted in the printer H08 .
  • the setting of the head in print setting and the head that has been installed in the printer are compared at step S404.
  • the program proceeds to step S408 if the two agree. If the two do not agree, processing branches in accordance with the head that has been installed in the printer.
  • the program proceeds to step S405 if the monochrome printing head has been installed, to step S406 if the color printing head has been installed and to step S407 if the photographic printing grade head has been installed.
  • the head information of the print setting is set to black and white at step S405, to color at step S406 and to photographic grade printing at step S407. It is determined at step S408 whether the print button of the printing dialog box has been pressed. If the answer is "YES”, a transition is made to printing processing. If the answer is "NO”, then the program proceeds to step S409, where overall processing for printing dialog is executed. Here print settings such as the printing method and paper feed opening are changed. It is determined at step S410 whether a print setting has been changed at step S409. If a print setting has been changed, the program proceeds to step S402; otherwise, the program proceeds to step S403.
  • the setting of the driver is made to conform to the status of the printer, thereby facilitating the setting operation and making it possible to prevent printing malfunction causes by erroneous settings.
  • Printing processing can be executed under correct settings at all times by executing setting processing through a procedure similar to that of Fig. 54 to deal with paper size and the status of paper feed. Further, if the setting information can be transmitted from the printer to the host, any physical interface may be used.
  • Fig. 56 The hardware configuration of a printer system for realizing this example useful for understanding the invention will be described with reference to Fig. 56.
  • Components similar to those shown in Fig. 33 are designated by like reference characters and need not be described again.
  • the arrangement of Fig. 56 differs from that of Fig. 33 in that the printer H08 is equipped with counters H801, H802 and H803 for measuring the amounts of remaining ink in the three types of cartridges. The remaining ink counters are changed over automatically when a cartridge is replaced. However, the amount of ink used is not reset automatically.
  • this system has the software of the kind shown in Fig. 32, and the printer driver is implemented by the CPU H01, whereby the printer H08 is controlled.
  • the printer H08 is capable of discriminating the type of cartridge that has been installed. Specifically, each cartridge is provided beforehand with an identifier such as a projection conforming to the type of cartridge, and the identifier is capable of being sensed by a sensor on the printer body.
  • Fig. 58 is a utility dialog window for designating cleaning and cartridge replacement in the printer H08.
  • This window is displayed on the display unit H03 by having the operator make an entry by the keyboard or pointing device to the effect that the utility of the printer driver is to be used.
  • the printer driver starts cartridge replacement processing. First, the cartridge is moved to a cartridge replacement position, after which the system waits for the cartridge to be replaced.
  • the dialog box of Fig. 59 is displayed until the new cartridge is installed.
  • processing is terminated. If a different type cartridge is found to have been installed when cartridge replacement is finished (i.e., when this is determined by the cartridge sensor), processing is terminated. If a cartridge of the same type is found to have been installed, the dialog box shown in Fig. 60 is displayed and the operator is requested to select whether the amount of remaining ink is to be reset. If resetting of the amount of remaining ink is selected, the remaining ink counter is reset. If resetting is not selected, then processing is terminated without execution of any other steps.
  • Fig. 57 is a flowchart of the portion of processing related to cartridge replacement in the printer driver. This flowchart is executed after the cartridge replacement button of Fig. 58 is pressed.
  • the type of cartridge currently installed i.e., the type of cartridge prior to replacement, is acquired at step S431. More specifically, the type of cartridge that has been sensed by the cartridge recognition sensor of the printer H08 is requested. Here the dialog box of Fig. 59 is displayed. A command for moving the cartridge to the cartridge replacement position is transmitted at step S432. As a result, the cartridge of the printer is moved to the replacement position.
  • Step S433 Status as to whether cartridge replacement has been completed is acquired at step S433. For example, completion of replacement can be judged to have occurred in the printer H08 when a cartridge is sensed again by the cartridge sensor after a cartridge has been removed.
  • the printer sends a signal indicative of this decision to the printer driver as status regarding the completion of cartridge replacement.
  • step S434 On the basis of the status signal received, it is determined at step S434 whether the cartridge replacement has been completed. If the answer is "NO", the program returns to step S433.
  • the type of the newly installed cartridge is acquired at step S435. Here it will suffice to execute processing the same as that executed at step S431.
  • the cartridge type acquired at step S431 and the type acquired at step S435 are compared at step S436. If the cartridge type is different, then cartridge replacement processing is ended.
  • step S437 the screen of Fig. 60 is displayed and the operator is allowed to select whether resetting of the amount of remaining ink is to be performed. If the operator does not reset the amount of remaining in, then cartridge replacement processing is terminated.
  • step S438 It is determined at step S438 whether the cartridge that has been installed is the monochrome cartridge or the color cartridge. A transition is made to step S439 in case of the monochrome cartridge and to step S440 in case of the color cartridge. A reset command for resetting the amount of remaining ink in the monochrome cartridge is transmitted to the printer H08 at step S439. A reset command for resetting the amount of remaining ink in the color cartridge is transmitted to the printer H08 at step S440. Though only two types of cartridges are dealt with in Fig. 57, resetting of the remaining ink counters corresponding to the cartridges would be performed in the same manner even if there were three or more cartridges.
  • a remaining ink counter corresponding to an installed cartridge can be reset in the manner set forth above, it is possible to prevent an error in the remaining ink counter to be reset at the time of cartridge replacement and to prevent the printer from erroneously detecting the amount of remaining ink.
  • first cartridge-type acquisition step of acquiring cartridge type before cartridge replacement a cartridge replacement step of performing cartridge replacement
  • second cartridge-type acquisition step of acquiring cartridge type after cartridge replacement a cartridge-type comparison step of comparing the cartridge types before and after cartridge replacement
  • a remaining amount of ink resetting step for resetting amount of remaining ink if the cartridge types are the same, wherein the type of the installed cartridge is recognized automatically and the amount of remaining ink reset correctly.
  • the present invention can be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices (e.g., a host computer, interface, reader, printer, etc.) or to an apparatus comprising a single device (e.g., a copier or facsimile machine, etc.). Further, the invention is applicable also to a case where the object of the invention is attained by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In such case the system or apparatus would make it possible to attain the effects of the invention by supplying the system or apparatus with a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the invention.
  • the object of the present invention can also be achieved by providing a storage medium storing the program codes of the software for performing the aforesaid functions of the foregoing embodiment to a system or an apparatus, reading the program codes with a computer (e.g., a CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus from the storage medium, and then executing the program.
  • a computer e.g., a CPU or MPU
  • the storage medium such as a floppy disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile type memory card or ROM can be used to provide the program codes.
  • the present invention covers a case where an operating system (OS) or the like working on the computer performs a part of or the entire process in accordance with the designation of program codes and implements the functions according to the embodiment.
  • OS operating system
  • the present invention further covers a case where, after the program codes read from the storage medium are written in a function extension board inserted into the computer or in a memory provided in a function extension unit connected to the computer, a CPU or the like contained in the function extension board or function extension unit performs a part of or the entire process in accordance with the designation of program codes and implements the function of the above embodiments.
  • program codes corresponding to the flowchart described earlier are stored on this storage medium. More specifically, modules illustrating an example of the memory map of Fig. 60 are stored on the storage medium.
  • each of the modules shown in the example of the memory map of Fig. 62 is stored on the storage medium.
  • each of the modules shown in the example of the memory map of Fig. 63 is stored on the storage medium.
  • the user can execute optimum printing by making the minimum number of settings.
  • this can be dealt with merely by changing the combination of information.
  • printing can be carried out correctly by making printer driver and printer settings agree.
  • the information is stored in a user information storage unit. All combinations of items of the control information capable of being set by the user and values of items incapable of being set by the user, these having been selected so as to be the optimum values for the combinations, are stored as preset values in a combined information storage unit.
  • An information storage unit compares a value in the user information storage unit with a value in the combined information storage unit. If a combination for which agreement is achieved is found in the combined information storage unit, this value is stored in a printing information storage unit and transmitted to the printing device. Thus, an optimum value can be selected and sent to the printing device even with regard to an item incapable of being selected by the user.

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Claims (19)

  1. Vorrichtung zur Informationsverarbeitung mit einer Druckeinrichtung (100), mit:
    einem Anzeigemittel (105) zum Darstellen eines Einstellfensters (Fig. 27) mit einem Einstellwert eines ersten Einstellpunkts zum Drucken und einem Einstellwert eines zweiten Einstellpunkts zum Drucken;
    einem Änderungsmittel, das im Falle des nutzerauswahlabhängigen Änderns vom Einstellwert des im Einstellfenster dargestellten ersten Einstellpunkts in einen zweiten Wert der Einstellwert vom im Einstellfenster dargestellten (Fig. 29) zweiten Einstellpunkt nutzerauswahlunabhängig (Fig. 31: S3109 bis S3114, S3116) von einem dritten Wert in einen vierten Wert ändert, und wenn der Einstellwert vom im Einstellfenster dargestellten ersten Einstellpunkt nutzerauswahlabhängig von einem ersten Wert in einen zweiten Wert geändert wird, erfolgt nutzerauswahlabhängig das Ändern des Einstellwerts vom im Einstellfenster dargestellten zweiten Einstellpunkt von einem dritten Wert in einen vierten Wert (S3114 bis S3116).
  2. Vorrichtung zur Informationsverarbeitung nach Anspruch 1, bei der das Änderungsmittel eingerichtet ist zum Ändern des Einstellwerts vom im Einstellfenster dargestellten zweiten Einstellpunkt aus einem dritten Wert in einen vierten Wert, wenn bestimmt ist, daß eine Änderung des dritten Werts vom zweiten Einstellpunkt gemäß dem zweiten Wert des ersten Punkts zum Drucken (S3109 bis S3114, S3116) erwünscht ist.
  3. Vorrichtung zur Informationsverarbeitung nach Anspruch 2, bei der das Änderungsmittel ein Auswahlfenster (Fig. 28) zur Auswahl einstellt, die der Nutzer ausführen muß, und Ändern des im Einstellfenster dargestellten zweiten Einstellpunkts vom dritten Wert in den vierten Wert, wenn bestimmt ist, daß der Nutzer eine Auswahl zum Ändern des Werts vom zweiten Einstellpunkt getroffen hat (S3114 bis S3116).
  4. Vorrichtung zur Informationsverarbeitung nach Anspruch 3, bei der das Änderungsmittel den dritten Wert vom im Einstellfenster dargestellten zweiten Einstellpunkt zum Drucken nicht ändert, wenn es [ ] bestimmt ist, daß der Nutzer die Auswahl zum Ändern des Werts vom zweiten Einstellpunkt nicht gewählt hat (S3115-NO).
  5. Vorrichtung zur Informationsverarbeitung nach Anspruch 1, die über einen Hostrechner (110) verfügt.
  6. Vorrichtung zur Informationsverarbeitung nach Anspruch 1, bei der der erste Einstellpunkt und der zweite Einstellpunkt eine Einstellung der Vorrichtung zum Drucken (100) umfassen.
  7. Vorrichtung zur Informationsverarbeitung nach Anspruch 1, bei der der erste Einstellpunkt über das Einstellen für ein Medium und der zweite Einstellpunkt über eine Einstellung für ein Verfahren zum Drucken verfügen (Fig. 29).
  8. Verfahren zur Druckereinstellung, mit:
    einem Anzeigeschritt zum Darstellen eines Einstellfensters mit einem Einstellwert eines ersten Einstellpunkts zum Drucken und einem Einstellwert eines zweiten Einstellpunkts zum Drucken (53107);
    einem Änderungsschritt des Änderns vom Einstellwert des im Einstellfenster dargestellten zweiten Einstellpunkts aus einem dritten Wert in einen vierten Wert, ohne daß eine Auswahl vom Nutzer erfolgt ist (S3109 bis S3114, S3116), wenn der Einstellwert des im Einstellfenster dargestellten ersten Einstellpunkts als Reaktion auf eine Auswahl vom Nutzer von einem ersten Wert in einen zweiten Wert geändert wird, und wenn der Einstellwert vom im Einstellfenster dargestellten ersten Einstellpunkt als Reaktion auf eine Auswahl vom Nutzer von einem ersten Wert in einen zweiten Wert geändert wird, Durchführen einer Änderung des Einstellwerts vom im Einstellfenster dargestellten zweiten Einstellpunkt aus einem dritten Wert in einen vierten Wert als Reaktion auf eine weitere Auswahl, die der Nutzer eingegeben hat (S3114 bis S3116).
  9. Verfahren nach Anspruch 8, bei dem der Änderungsschritt den Einstellwert vom im Einstellfenster dargestellten zweiten Einstellpunkt aus einem dritten Wert in einen vierten Wert ändert, wenn bestimmt ist, daß das Ändern des dritten Wertes vom zweiten Einstellpunkt gemäß dem zweiten Wert vom ersten Punkt zum Drucken erwünscht ist (S3109 bis S3114, S3116).
  10. Verfahren nach Anspruch 9, bei dem im Änderungsschritt ein Auswahlfenster (Fig. 28) die vom Nutzer auszuführende Auswahl darstellt und der zweite im Einstellfenster dargestellte Einstellpunkt aus dem dritten Wert wird in den vierten Wert geändert, wenn bestimmt ist, daß der Nutzer das Ändern des Werts vom zweiten Einstellpunkt gewählt hat (S3114 bis S3116).
  11. Verfahren nach Anspruch 10, bei dem im Änderungsschritt der dritte Wert vom im Einstellfenster dargestellten zweiten Einstellpunkt nicht verändert wird, wenn es [ ] bestimmt ist, daß der Nutzer den Wert zum Ändern des zweiten Einstellpunkts nicht gewählt hat (S3115-NO).
  12. Verfahren nach Anspruch 8, bei dem der erste Einstellpunkt und der zweite Einstellpunkt das Einstellen der Vorrichtung (110) zum Drucken umfassen.
  13. Verfahren nach Anspruch 8, bei dem der erste Einstellpunkt das Einstellen für ein Medium und der zweite Einstellpunkt das Einstellen für ein Verfahren zum Drucken umfassen (Fig. 29).
  14. Computerprogrammprodukt mit einem computerlesbaren Medium mit einem Computerprogrammcode für ein Verfahren zum Einstellen des Druckens, mit:
    einem Anzeigeverarbeitungscode zum Darstellen eines Einstellfensters mit einem Einstellwert eines ersten Einstellpunkts zum Drucken und eines Einstellwerts vom zweiten Einstellpunkt zum Drucken (53107);
    einem Änderungsvorgangscode zum Ändern des Einstellwerts vom im Einstellfenster dargestellten zweiten Einstellpunkt aus einem dritten Wert in einen vierten Wert, ohne daß eine Auswahl vom Nutzer erfolgt (S3109 bis S3114, S3116), wenn der Einstellwert vom im Einstellfenster dargestellten ersten Einstellpunkt als Reaktion auf die Auswahl vom Nutzer aus einem ersten Wert in einen zweiten Wert geändert wird, und wenn der Einstellwert vom im Einstellfenster dargestellten ersten Einstellpunkt als Reaktion auf die Auswahl vom Nutzer von einem ersten Wert in einen zweiten Wert geändert wird, erfolgt das Ändern vom Einstellwert des im Einstellfenster dargestellten zweiten Einstellpunkts aus einem dritten Wert in einen vierten Wert als Reaktion auf eine weitere Auswahl, die der Nutzer eingegeben hat (S3114 bis S3116).
  15. Computerprogrammprodukt nach Anspruch 14, bei dem der Änderungsvorgangscode den Einstellwert des im Einstellfenster dargestellten zweiten Einstellpunkts aus einem dritten Wert in einen vierten Wert ändert, wenn bestimmt ist, daß das Ändern des dritten Werts vom zweiten Einstellpunkt gemäß dem zweiten Wert des ersten Punkts zum Drucken erwünscht ist (S3109 bis S3114, S3116).
  16. Computerprogrammprodukt nach Anspruch 15, bei dem im Änderungsvorgangscode ein Auswahlfenster (Fig. 28) für eine vom Nutzer auszuführende Auswahl geändert wird und der im Einstellfenster dargestellte zweite Einstellpunkt von einem dritten Wert in einen vierten Wert geändert wird, wenn bestimmt ist, daß der Nutzer das Ändern des Werts vom zweiten Einstellpunkt gewählt hat (S3114 bis S3116).
  17. Computerprogrammprodukt nach Anspruch 16, bei dem im Änderungsverarbeitungscode der dritte Wert vom im Einstellfenster dargestellten zweiten Einstellpunkt nicht verändert wird, wenn es [ ] bestimmt ist, daß der Nutzer den Änderungswert vom zweiten Einstellpunkt nicht gewählt hat (S3115-NO).
  18. Computerprogrammprodukt nach Anspruch 14, bei dem der erste Einstellpunkt und der zweite Einstellpunkt das Einstellen der Einrichtung (110) zum Drucken umfassen.
  19. Computerprogrammprodukt nach Anspruch 14, bei dem der erste Einstellpunkt Einstellen für ein Medium und der zweite Einstellpunkt Einstellen für ein Verfahren zum Drucken umfassen (Fig. 29).
EP96120616A 1995-12-22 1996-12-20 Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Drucksteuerung Expired - Lifetime EP0780787B1 (de)

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JP335045/95 1995-12-22
JP7335045A JPH09179697A (ja) 1995-12-22 1995-12-22 印刷制御装置及び方法
JP7337281A JPH09179698A (ja) 1995-12-25 1995-12-25 印刷情報提供装置および方法
JP337281/95 1995-12-25
JP202584/96 1996-07-31
JP20258496A JP4440998B2 (ja) 1996-07-31 1996-07-31 情報処理装置及びプリンタドライバにおける設定方法

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EP0780787A2 (de) 1997-06-25
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US6327051B1 (en) 2001-12-04
US8120792B2 (en) 2012-02-21
US20020089683A1 (en) 2002-07-11
US7408674B2 (en) 2008-08-05
US20110149329A1 (en) 2011-06-23
US20080273216A1 (en) 2008-11-06
US6704122B2 (en) 2004-03-09
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